Appendix A (recommended)

Idea relationship table

List or number or sequence	first, second, third, one, two, three/a, b, c, next, then, finally, last, in the first/second place, for one thing/for another thing, to begin with, subsequently, eventually, in the end, to conclude
Addition, reinforcement, confirmation	again, then again, also, moreover, furthermore, in addition, above all, what is more
Similarity between two ideas	equally, likewise, similarly, correspondingly, in the same way
Conclusion or summary	all in all, so, so far, altogether, overall, then, thus, therefore, in short, in brief, in conclusion, in summary, on the whole, that is, therefore, to sum up, to conclude, to summarize
Results or consequences	accordingly, as a result, as a consequence, because, consequently, for this purpose, hence, otherwise, since, so, then, therefore, thus, to this end, with this object
Explanation or restatement	namely, in other words, that is to say, better, rather, by [this…] we mean, in fact
Illustration or example	after all, an illustration of, even, for example, for instance, indeed, of course, specifically, that is, to illustrate, truly
Alternative, replacement, or contrast	alternatively, (or) again, (or) rather, (but) then, on the other hand, on the contrary, nevertheless, regardless, still, though, yet, and yet, despite, even so, even though, however, in contrast
Opposite ideas	conversely, instead, then, on the contrary, by contrast, on the other hand
Unexpected results, consequences, contrast	nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, still, though, yet, for all that, in spite of (that), at the same time, all the same
Place	above, adjacent to, below, elsewhere, farther on, here, near, nearby, on the other side, opposite to, there, to the east, to the left
Time	after a while, afterward, as long as, as soon as, at last, at length, at that time, before, earlier, formerly, immediately, in the meantime, in the past, lately, later, meanwhile, now, presently, shortly, simultaneously, since, so far, soon, subsequently, then, thereafter, until, when

Adding Metacommentary

In other words, ____________________.

What __________ really means by this is ______________.

My point is ___________________.

Essentially, I am arguing that _________________.

My point is not that we should ________________, but that we should _____________.

What _____________ really means is _________________.

In other words, ______________________.

To put it another way, ______________________________.

In sum, then, ___________________________.

My conclusion, then, is that, ______________________________.

In short, ___________________________.

What is more important, ______________________________.

Incidentally, _________________________________________.

By the way, __________________________________________.

Chapter 2 explores __________________, while Chapter 3 examines _________________________.

Having just argued that __________________, let us now turn our attention to ____________________________.

Although some readers may object that _______________________, I would answer that __________________.

Essay Organization Guide

The introduction paragraph(s) should:

- use an interesting opener to encourage your readers to keep reading. This lead-in could be part of the background for your essay. It could also tell a little story, such as something from the news;

- provide some general background/context for your essay. This background could be part of your opener, or it could present some information, such as a brief overview of how zoos have changed throughout history;

- give the thesis, which is the statement that responds, in general terms, to the question and also communicates the controlling idea. You are being asked to take a definite position on the topic, so the controlling idea should be clear.

Each body section should:

- have a topic sentence that makes a general statement related to a thesis;

- provide specific support for this thesis;

- combine your own examples and details with specific evidence from researched sources to support your ideas;

- explain how the details/examples are related to the thesis.

The closing paragraph(s) should:

- review the thesis statement;

- NOT provide any new or additional information;

- have a closing statement about the overall topic (possibly related to the lead-in and/or the title).

Essay revision checklist

Title

Evaluate the title.

- Appropriate?

- Accurate?

Introduction

Evaluate the opening/background/context information.

1) Does the opening present information to make readers want to read your essay?

2) Is there information that helps readers understand the background/history/situation on which your essay is based? For example, if the topic is related to a controversial issue, is the opposing view summarized?

3) Is opening or background information related in some way to the title? (optional)

4) Can you come back to the idea/theme of the introduction in your closing paragraph?

5) Are there transitions/connections/logical links between ideas in the introduction paragraph? Be careful of idea logical gaps.

Thesis statement.

Evaluate the thesis statement.

1) Does your thesis contain a controlling idea? That is, could someone disagree with you about it?

2) Is the thesis clearly stated with specific language?

3) Is the preview clearly related to the thesis?

4) Does the thesis preview present the main supporting ideas discussed in the body paragraphs?

Body

Evaluate topic sentences.

1) Does every body paragraph have a topic sentence that introduces a thesis?

2) Is each idea from the thesis discussed?

Evaluate supporting sentences.

1) Does everything in the paragraph clearly relate to the topic sentence?

2) Do you use appropriate ideas to support, prove, or explain the thesis?

3) Do you use specific details and examples as evidence for the thesis?

4) Do you explain HOW the details or examples support the thesis? That is, is the relationship between the details/examples and the thesis clear?

For each body paragraph

Are there transitions/connections/logic links between paragraphs?

Closing

Evaluate a closing paragraph.

1) Do you avoid introducing any new ideas in the closing paragraph?

2) Does the conclusion avoid contradicting your thesis or apologizing for your ideas and opinions?

3) Are there transitions/connections/logic links between paragraphs?

4) Does the closing create a sense of ending for your reader?

5) Does the conclusion relate to the opening theme or title in some way?

Essay Topics

Instant foods, instant communication, faster transportation – all of these recent developments are designed to save time. Ironically, though, instead of making more leisure time available, these developments have contributed to a pace of human affairs that is more rushed and more frantic than ever.

The worldwide distribution of televisions programs and advertisements is seriously diminishing differences among cultures.

Creating an appealing image has become more important in contemporary society than is the reality or truth behind that image.

In the age of television, reading books is not as important as it once was. People can learn as much by watching television as they can by reading books.

Imaginative works such as novels, plays, films, fairy tales, and legends present a more accurate and meaningful picture of human experience than do factual accounts. Because the creators of fiction shape and focus reality rather than report on it literally, their creations have a more lasting significance.

Education encourages students to question and criticize, and therefore does little to promote social harmony.

Government should preserve publicly owned wilderness areas in their natural state, even though these areas are often extremely remote and, thus, are accessible to only a few people.

The increasingly rapid pace of life today causes more problems than it solves.

High profile awards such as the Nobel Prize are actually damaging to society because they suggest that only a few people deserve such recognition.

The concept of «individual responsibility» is a necessary fiction. Although society must hold individuals accountable for their own actions, people’s behavior is largely determined by forces not of people’s own making.

To truly understand your own culture – no matter how you define it – requires personal knowledge of at least one other culture, one that is distinctly different from your own.

People have been so encouraged by society to focus on apparent differences that they fail to see meaningful similarities among ideas, individuals, and groups.

Government should place few, if any, restrictions on scientific research and development.

Technologies not only influence but actually determine social customers and ethics.

Universities should require every student to take a variety of courses outside the student’s field of study because acquiring knowledge of various academic disciplines is the best way to become truly educated.

People work more productively in teams than individually. Teamwork requires cooperation, which motivates people much more than individual competition does.

It is unfortunate but true that political decisions and activities affect all aspects of people’s lives.

The worldwide distribution of television programs and advertisements is seriously diminishing the differences among cultures.

While most of the environmental problems we face result from the use of technology, society must depend upon technology to find solutions to these problems.

Every new generation needs to redefine «right» and «wrong» in its own terms and according to the conditions of its own time.

Tradition and modernization are incompatible. One must choose between them.

The most practical and effective way to protect wilderness areas is to attract more tourists to these areas through environmentally sensitive projects.

The only responsibility of corporate executives, provided they stay within the law, is to make as much money as possible for their companies.

It is impossible for an effective political leader to tell the truth all the time. Complete honesty is not a useful virtue for a politician.

The surest indicator of a great nation is not the achievement of its rulers,

artists, or scientists, but the general welfare of all its people.

Scandals – whether in politics, academia, or other areas – can be useful. They focus our attention on problems in ways that no speaker or reformer ever could.

As along as people in a society are hungry or out of work or lack the basic skills to survive, the use of public resources to support the arts is inappropriate – and, perhaps, even cruel – when one considers all the potential uses of such money.

It is not the headline-making political events but the seldom-reported social transformations that have the most lasing significance.

The goal of politics should not be the pursuit of an ideal, but rather the search for common ground and reasonable consensus.

The material progress and well-being of one country are necessarily connected to the material progress and well-being of all other countries.

Unlike great thinkers and great artists, the most effective political leaders mush often yield to public opinion and abandon principle for the sake of compromise.

The best way to understand the character of a society is to examine the character of the men and women that the society chooses as its heroes or its heroines.

The way people look, dress, and act reveals their attitudes and interests. You can tell much about a society’s ideas and values by observing the appearance and behavior of its people.

In order for any work of art – whether film, literature, sculpture, or a song – to have merit, it must be understandable to most people.

The best way to teach – whether as an educator, employer, or parent – is to praise positive actions and ignore negative ones.

Societies should try to save every plant and animal species, regardless of the expense to humans in effort, time, and financial well-being.

The true value of a civilization is reflected in its artistic creations rather than in its scientific accomplishments.

The video camera provides such an accurate and convincing record of contemporary life that it has become a more important form of documentation than written records.

People’s attitudes are determined more by their immediate situation or surroundings than by any internal characteristic.

Contemporary technology makes available many small pieces of factual information. As a result, people have become so pre-occupied with bits of fragmented information that they pay too little attention to the larger issues and overall perspectives.